End unit and liner for aerosol containers



United States Patent References Cited [72] Inventor ElmerJ.Boik

222/386 5 ZZZ/386.5

S .m T m m m M m P 1 lnlm :W M Z S m m M ek rh r m Q oooo m N66 e 70 H" .l. ".1 MD ou r 37 mm 90 no nn 33 PA c n I m m a 0 m Y o w c N ooo H. G- NM I 99M ,i r 11 km d If f6 39 alsz v mw udfi r m3 nww m mm 7 CNa Q d e N mm L 0 P i phmx AFPA 11:11.. 253 2247 [[[l ABSTRACT: This disclosure relates to an end and particularly means for defi therebetween, the liner bein material and having an annul groove joined to a frustoconi juncture, and the diameter of central opening of the end un whereby the latter is received in and interlocked with the liner groove.

3 3 l2df/ 22 2 w 2 u R m m m m a m m m R H E g m m m m m m m m L w m m m n a m m m mm m m m AE4 m m m Hus m m e I a s AM L m .i UTh mu 0 C m EClU I. F M H U m w w w w ill! PATENTEUumzzmm 3549358 INVENT OR ELMER J. BCNK ATTORNEYS ENDUNIT AND LINER FORAEROSOL CONTAINERS jLThis invention relates to aerosol-type-" containers which 1 include a product-containing compartment defined by a liner which is capable of collapsing under the influence of propel- 1am housed between the-liner and a container body. An end unit or closure of the container includes a manually operable valve-actuated dispensing mechanism which is in communication with the liner interior. Thus, upon depressing or actuating the dispensing mechanism the particular product packaged withinthe liner is dispensed to atmosphere as the liner collap- .se's under the influence of the propellant.

It should be appreciated that the aerosol container or the complements thereof are manufactured by some one other than the packager. For example, a manufacturer mighttypically assemble all of the components of the dispensing container except for the valve-actuated dispensing mechanism which would be attached to the dispensing container by the packager only after the packager has charged the collapsible liner with a dispensable product. Thereafter a suitable propellant in the form of a gaseous medium is introduced into the container by the packager by, for example, introducing a propellant chargingneedle through a grommet in the end unit opposite the valve actuated dispensing mechanism. Since the manufacturer ships the aerosol container to the packager with the liner and container body united or at least an end unit thereof, it is essential thatthe unification of the container body and'the liner is such as to prevent axial displacement therebetween during storage, shipment or packaging. For example, if the liner drops into the canbody, it would be im possible to properly thereafter fill the liner with the desired vertent displacement of the liner during storage, shipment and/or packaging.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel product-receiving liner of the type heretofore mentioned wherein the outwardly opening groove is joined by a minimum radius juncture to a frustoconical wall, the minimum radius juncture servingto maintain the liner and an associated end unit in assembled relationship.

. A further object of this invention is to provide a novel product-receivingliner of the type described which includes a body having a plurality of axially disposed circumferential beads which impart a bellowslike configuration to the body for facilitating the=collapsing thereof during a dispensing operation, each circumferential bead being defined by a pair of outwardly converging walls, and each of said walls further includingjoutwardly converging surfaces to impart a tapered cross section to each wall for facilitating regulated collapsing thereof during a dispensing operation.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to 'the following detailed description, the appended claimed subject matter, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

l is a fragmentary side elevational view with parts broken away and shown in section of a dispensing container constructed in accordance with this invention, and illustrates theirnanner in which a curl of a dome closure is interlockingly engaged with a radially, outwardly opening circumferential groove of-a resilient product-receiving liner. I FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional viewof a portion of the closure and liner of FIG. 1, and illustrates the manner in which ahefated die is directed againsta severed edge of the liner to form the same to the phantom outlineposition prior to the attachment of a dispensingmechanism thereto.

-or otherwise secured to the can body FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. I, and illustrates a dispensing valve secured to the closure after the liner has been charged with a suitable dispensable product.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged diagrammatic view of an upper portion of the liner, and illustrates more clearly themanner in which the curl-receiving groove is joined to a frustoconical wall by a minor radius juncture.

A novel aerosol dispensing container constructed in accordance with this invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10, and includes a bottom end unit or closure (not shown), a cylindrical can body 11, an upper domeshaped end unit or closure 12, a liner l3, and a conventional manually operable valve mechanism 14 (FIG. 3).

The bottom end unit (not shown) is preferably secured to the metallic container body 11 by a double seam, such as a conventional double seam l5.which secures the end unit 12 to an upper peripheral edge (unnumbered) of the body 11. However, the bottom end unit and the can body 11 may be of an integral one-piece construction formed by, for example, impact extrusion, as isconventionally practiced in producing onepiece aluminum can bodies. Furthermore, though the closure 12 is shown unitedto the can body 11 by a double seam 15, it is considered in keeping with this invention to form the can body 11 and the end unit 12 of a single piece of metal and in this instance double seam or otherwise secure a bottom end unit to the unillustrated-bottom end of the can body 1 1. Thus, reference hereinafter to closures or end units is intended to include both closures which are separately formed and seamed 11 or closures formed as integral portions thereof. j

The end unit 12 when formed other than as an integral portion of the can body 11 includes the outer peripheral edge (unnumbered) which forms the double seam 15, an upwardly opening groove 16, a domelike panel 17, and a terminal edge 18 defined by a radially outwardly and downwardly and inwardly directed curl 'whose radially innermost surface establishes a predetermined diameter D of a central mouth or opening (unnumbered) of the end unit 12.

The liner 13 is constructed from flexible synthetic copolymeric material, such as polyethylene, and is formed by blow molding. The liner13 includes a liner body 20, which by way of example may be cylindrical or include a plurality of axially adjacent circumferential ribs 21 each of which is defined.

by a pair of walls (unnumbered) converging radially outwardly and terminating at an apex 22 which is thinner than innermostapices 23. Due to the converging cross section of the walls of thetribs 21 which imparts an outwardly tapering cross section thereto, as shown in FIG. 1, the liner 13 will collapse under the influence of a propellant in an orderly and regulated fashion. In particular, the walls of the ribs will collapse initially adjacent the apex 22 and progressively continue to collapse to extrude the product radially inwardly and prevent the entrapment thereof as might, for example, occur if collapsing took place at the. apices 23 which would entrap a product within the ribs 21 and prevent the eventual dispensing therefrom.

The liner body 20 further includes a projecting neck 24 having a contoured intermediate portion 25 joined to a frustoconical wall 26 by a circumferential radially outwardly opening wall 27. The wall 27 defines a groove or channel 28 in which is interlockingly received the curl 18.

Reference is now made to FIG. 4 which more specifically illustrates the manner in which the circumferential wall 27 is joined to the walls 25, 26 by a plurality of junctures 31 through 34 having respective radii Rl-R4. The radii Rl-R3 and -a radius R5 of the wall 27 are relatively large and in a structural embodiment of the invention the latter-noted radii are 0.062 inch, 0.074 inch, 0.046 inch, and 0.064 inch. The radius R5.ofthe wall27 is, of course, selected to matingly contouringly interlockingly engage with the curl 18 of the end unit 12.

The primary feature of the invention is the minimum radius R4of the juncture .34 joining the circumferential wall 27 to the frustoconical wall 26. As can be readily appreciated from FIG. 4, a plane tangent to the frustoconical wall 26 intersects the wall 27 at the juncture 34, and due to the larger radius R5 of the wall 27 and the slight inclination (approximately 5) of the frustoconical wall 26, the radius R4 is little more than a slight rounding as opposed to a straight line edge at the intersection or juncture 34. Thus, the radius R4 can be considered to be the virtual equivalent to a straight line edge though it is slightly rounded of necessity due to the fact that the liner is blow-molded and straight line junctures are avoided in the mold cavity to facilitate the removal of the liner therefrom. However, since the radius R4 of the juncture 34 is virtually minimal reference hereinafter including the claims will be made to the generally zero root radius" of the juncture 34 to indicate the minimum size thereof. lt has been found that by maintaining the juncture 34 at such a minimum zero root radius the liner will remain interlocked with the curl 18 when initially seated therein, as shown in HO. 1, and after the frustoconical wall 26 has been severed and removed to form an edge 35 (FIG. 2).

Heretofore a similar liner had been constructed and is disclosed in commonly assigned application Ser. No. 537,570 in the name of Herbert S. Ruekberg, filed on Mar. 25, 1966, and now US. Pat. No. 3,423,818. In the latter-mentioned disclosure, the liner was devoid of the minimum zero root radius juncture 34 and the frustoconical wall 26 and in lieu thereof included an extremely large radius, as indicated in phantom outline at R6 in FIG. 4 blending with the wall 27 and an uppermost wall 36. However, upon the removal of the uppermost portion of the latter-noted liner, as indicated in FIG. 9 of the latter disclosure, it has been found that the liner would unseat. This disadvantage has, however, been eliminated due to the abrupt radius R5 of the juncture 34 and of course, the larger diameter D] of the juncture 34, as compared to the diameter D of the curl 18.

After the liner 13 has been assembled and the upper portion thereof severed in the manner described in the latter-noted disclosure, a heated die 37 having an annular groove 38 is moved downwardly to re-form the remaining portion of the frustoconical wall 26 to the phantom outline configuration illustrated in H0. 2. Thereafter the liner 13 is filled and the dispensing valve 14 is secured to the curl 18 by a curl 40. Sealing compound S between the curls 18, 40 prevents the product and/or propellant from escaping. The propellant is, of course, introduced between the liner l3 and the body 11 in a conventional manner so as to exert the necessary force to collapse the liner 13 upon the actuation of the dispensing valve 14.

While preferred forms and arrangements of parts have been shown in illustrating the invention, it is to be clearly understood that various changes in details and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

lclaim:

l. A liner adapted to receive a dispensable product comprising a generally tubular member having axially opposite end portions at least one of which is closed, the other of said end portions having a circumferential radially outwardly opening wall defining a circumferential groove adapted to interlockingly receive the curl of a closure, at frustoconical wall joined at its larger diameter to said circumferential wall by a generally zero root radius juncture, and said frustoconical wall converging in a direction away from said closed end.

2. The liner as defined in claim 1 wherein a plane tangential to said frustoconical wall defines an angle of no more than 10 with a plane parallel to the axis of said tubular member.

3. The liner as defined in claim 1 wherein said circumferential wall is defined by a radius of approximately 0.05- -0.07 inch.

4. The liner as defined in claim 1 wherein said juncture is a slightly exteriorly rounded straight line circumferentially disposed edge.

5. The liner as defined in claim 1 wherein said tubular member includes a pluralit of axially disposed circumferential llbS imparting a be lowslike configuration to said body, each rib being defined by a pair of radially outwardly converging walls, and each wall having radially outwardly converging inner and outer surfaces imparting an outwardly tapering cross-sectional configuration to each wall.

6. The combination of an end unit and a liner, said end unit including an opening defined by a curl having a predetermined minimum diameter, said liner being a generally tubular member having axially opposite end portions at least one of which is closed, the other of said end portions having a circumferential radially outwardly opening wall defining a circumferential groove in which is interlockingly received said curl, a frustoconical wall joined at its larger diameter to said circumferential wall by a generally zero root radius juncture, said juncture having an outer diameter which is greater than said predetermined minimum diameter, and said frustoconical wall converges in a direction away from said closed end.

7. The combination of an end unit and a liner as defined in claim 6 wherein a plane tangential to said frustoconical wall defines an angle of no more than 10 with a plane parallel to the axis of said tubular member.

8. The combination of an end unit and a liner as defined in claim 6 wherein said juncture is a slightly exteriorly rounded straight line circumferentially disposed edge.

9. A method of assembling a liner with a member having an opening of a predetermined diameter, the liner having a tapering end portion merging with a circumferential outwardly opening wall at a zero root radius juncture having an exterior diameter greater than the diameter of said opening, said method comprising the steps of passing the tapered end portion of the liner through the opening, temporarily reducing the diameter of the radius juncture to pass the same through the opening to seat a peripheral edge defining the opening within the circumferential wall, and returning the juncture to its initial diameter.

10. The method as defined in claim 9 including the step of severing a portion of the frustoconical wall from the remainder of the liner, and blending a terminal edge portion of the liner adjacent the radius juncture to the peripheral edge defining said opening. 

